The committee added that thousands of athletes who had already registered for the event had proposed for it to be shelved to a later date.
The 2024 Nairobi City Marathon which was initially scheduled for Sunday, July 7 has been postponed, according to the organisers.
In a statement on Tuesday, July 2, the decision to postpone the highly-anticipated marathon came owing to unavoidable circumstances beyond the control of the organising committee.
The marathon has thus had its date moved to September 8, 2024.
“After widespread consultations, evaluation, and introspection, the Nairobi City Marathon, earlier scheduled for this Sunday, July 7, has been postponed to September 8.
Participants at a past Nairobi City marathon. /FILE
“The postponement has been occasioned by unavoidable, external circumstances beyond the control of the organizing committee,” the statement read in part.
The committee added that thousands of athletes who had already registered for the event had proposed for it to be shelved to a later date.
The committee further apologised to anyone who had expended resources and time preparing for this marathon and empathised with the inconvenience brought upon them by the sudden change of plans.
“We will push full steam ahead and work non-stop to ensure that the marathon is one of the biggest and most memorable events across the globe this year,” the statement added.
The committee however indicated that the postponement provides them with an opportunity to put in place measures to ensure a bigger and better edition.
It therefore urged interested participants to use the extended period to continue registering for the marathon and training for it.
“We thank all those who have thus far registered, many of who include foreign athletes. We believe that the entry of these foreign athletes will go a long way in spicing up the competition and enhance Nairobi City Marathon’s status as one of the world’s most-watched road races,” the committee remarked.
The postponement comes amidst the ongoing protests which have forced the cancellation of a series of events.
On Thursday, June 27, the Global Peace Foundation released a statement following the cancellation of its opening ceremony which President William Ruto was meant to attend on Wednesday, June 26.
The foundation revealed that participants at the ongoing Global Peace Leadership Conference that kicked off on June 25, 2024, had offered prayers for Kenya following the anti-Finance Bill protests.
In place of the opening ceremony that was cancelled in respect of the ongoing protests around the Finance Bill, participants led by Rev. Fr. Canice Chinyeaka Enyiaka PhD, the Regional Representative for Africa, Global Peace Foundation, wished for a quick resolution to the issues as raised by the protesters.
People attend a demonstration against Kenya’s proposed finance bill in Nairobi, Kenya, June 25. /REUTERS